Personal hero and why: I have two. First and foremost God. I know in my heart that everything I am today, everything I believe today, and everything I have today comes from Him. Second, my mom. I know that God made her my mom for a reason. She always tells me, “I’ve taught you everything I can. It’s up to you now to choose right from wrong and face the results, be they good or bad.”

Preferred college: Columbia University.

Preferred career: Music performer or educator.

Greatest achievement so far: Knowing my beliefs and trying my hardest to live by them.

What you’d like to be your next greatest achievement: I’d like to start off my life as a career man. I’d like to be a music teacher, focus on vocal music, with a small event-planning business on the side.

Q: What has been your favorite high school class so far and why?

A: Student government. It’s something I enjoy doing, and I couldn’t imagine my life without it. It’s a place where not only can I do what I love to do, help people, put on student activities among other things, but I’m doing it surrounded by other people who love doing it, too, and I can just be myself with them.

Q: What do you do for fun when you’re not in class?

A: When am I not in class? Ha ha. Just kidding. I like just hanging out with friends. I like to read (I’m kind of a nerd), and I like church, playing music, and youth group.

Q: What’s the best advice a teacher, coach or parent ever gave you?

A: So many things I’ve been told throughout my life. But I’m going to give a cliche answer: Always be true to yourself.

Q: What will you miss about your school after graduation?

A: Seeing everyone in the halls every day, being able to say hi to everyone. Really, I’m just going to miss seeing everyone all the time.

Q: What would you like to do after college?

A: I want to teach at a school like Palisade, where I can give each student more individual focus because it’s not a big school.

Q: If you could spend next summer anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A: I would traverse the entire world. Take in all the different cultures and visit all the different places that you hear about in the movies and more. Truly experience life outside of what is normal for us and live as the people of each place live.